Pesticide Take-Home Pathways, Storage, and Application Methods Among Hmong Farmers in Central Valley, California.

OBJECTIVE: Pesticide exposure via take-home pathways is a major health concern among farmers. However, little is known about the effects of pesticide take-home pathways on small-scale Hmong farmers in the Central Valley. This study explored factors that contribute to pesticide exposure via the take-home pathway among small-scale Hmong farmers in the Central Valley. METHODS: Detailed ethnographic observations of small-scale farms and corresponding homes were coupled with in-depth qualitative interviews with Hmong farmers to assess the extent of the pesticide take-home pathway. RESULTS: The study found daily challenges and numerous ways that pesticide particles may be introduced into farmers' homes. Given the paucity of research about Hmong farmers' pesticide take-home pathways, the study's findings advance the scholarship on pesticide exposures in the Hmong farmer community. CONCLUSION: This study advocates for more culturally and linguistically appropriate pesticide exposure training and educational programs tailored to Hmong farmers in the United States.

Unified in Our Diversity to Address Health Disparities Among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA/NHPIs) in the United States. AA/NHPIs have historically been subjected to discrimination, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. To bring attention to their unique concerns, an AA/NHPI Interest Group of the National Institutes of Health Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities (CEAL) was formed. This article highlights major concerns raised by the Interest Group: The pervasive and arbitrary practice of data aggregation by public health agencies and health-related researchers, the lack of culturally responsive services in the context of cultural safety, and leadership underrepresentation.

Actitudes y creencias anticonceptivas entre los adultos jóvenes / Contraceptive Attitudes Among Hmong Young Adults In Rural California

Introduction: While different contraceptive attitudes have been reported among different ethnic groups in the US, little if any research has been conducted to understand the reproductive health needs and attitudes among Hmong young adults. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationship among contraceptive perception of this community. Objective: The purpose of this research was to identify attitudes that influence Hmong college students' contraceptive practices. Methods: A campus-wide online survey was used as part of the data collection at a midsize institution in Central California. The questionnaire was a 32-items scale instrument called Contraceptive Attitude Scale (CAS), developed by Dr. Black. Results: Three hundred and forty-four students successfully completed the 32-items scale instrument CAS, which measured general contraceptive attitudes among Hmong young adults in rural California. The data reveals a high prevalence of unmarried (85%) Hmong college students reporting being sexually active (67%), with 62% having at least one sexual partner over the past 12 months; however, only 36% reported to use condom compared to 58% who did not use condoms during the last time of sexual intercourse. Conclusion: The findings indicated statistically significant differences between groups on the characteristics of sexual partners, contraceptive methods, marital status, birthplace, primary language spoken at home, years spent in college and years lived in the United States. The findings greatly contribute to the understanding of factors that influence contraceptive choices among the Hmong college population. More importantly, the information is crucial in designing programs to promote contraceptive knowledge and practices that are specific to the Hmong.

Introducción: Si bien se informaron diferencias en las actitudes anticonceptivas entre los diferentes grupos étnicos en los EE. UU., Se ha realizado poca o ninguna investigación para comprender las necesidades y actitudes de salud reproductiva entre los adultos jóvenes Hmong. Hasta donde sabemos, este es el primer estudio que investiga la relación entre la percepción anticonceptiva de esta comunidad. Objetivo: El propósito de esta investigación fue identificar actitudes que influyen en las prácticas anticonceptivas de los estudiantes universitarios de Hmong.Métodos: Se utilizó una encuesta en línea en todo el campus como parte de la recopilación de datos en una institución mediana en California Central. El cuestionario era un instrumento a escala de 32 ítems llamado Escala de Actitud Anticonceptiva (CAS), desarrollado por el Dra. Black. Resultados:Trescientos cuarenta y cuatro estudiantes completaron con éxito el instrumento CAS de escala de 32 ítems, que midió las actitudes anticonceptivas generales entre los adultos jóvenes Hmong en las zonas rurales de California. Los datos revelan una alta prevalencia de estudiantes universitarios Hmong solteros (85%) que informan ser sexualmente activos (67%), al menos una pareja sexual en los últimos 12 meses (62%); sin embargo, solo el 36% informó usar condón en comparación con el 58% que no usó condón durante la última vez que tuvo relaciones sexuales. Conclusión: Los resultados indicaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos en cuanto a las características de las parejas sexuales, los métodos anticonceptivos, el estado civil, el lugar de nacimiento, el idioma principal que se habla en el hogar, los años que pasaron en la universidad y los años que vivieron en los Estados Unidos. Los hallazgos contribuyen en gran medida a la comprensión de los factores que influyen en las elecciones de anticonceptivos entre la población universitaria de Hmong. Más importante aún, la información es crucial en el diseño de programas para promover el conocimiento y las prácticas anticonceptivas que son específicos del Hmong.

Methyl-bromide and asthma emergency department visits in California, USA from 2005 to 2011.

Objective: Urban monitors of Methyl bromide (MBr), not typically near application sites, are used to investigate the impact of ambient concentrations on asthma Emergency Department (ED) visits.Methods: 4262 ED visits from August to February of 2005 to 2011 in Central and Southern California were selected from California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). A bidirectional-symmetric case-crossover study design using conditional logistic regression model was used to obtain the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval associated with a 0.01 ppb (interquartile range) increase in MBr.Results: The population sample was comprised of 46.0% male and 53.9% females. Ethnic groups included 32.0% Non-Hispanic White, 23.5% Non-Hispanic Black, and 44.4% Hispanic. Age distribution was between 2 and 5 years old (11.6%), 6 and 18 years old (23.5%), 19 and 40 years old (29.3%), 41 and 64 years old (24.1%), and 65 or older (6.9%). There was a positive association between MBr and asthma ED visits among Non-Hispanic Blacks [OR: 1.065 (95% confidence intervals: 1.019, 1.108)] and Hispanics [OR: 1.107 (95% confidence intervals: 1.043, 1.173)], while Non-Hispanic Whites did not have an association with asthma ED visits. Positive association between MBr and asthma ED visits was found only among 6 to 18 [OR: 1.071 (95% confidence intervals: 1.016, 1.125)] years old.Conclusion: An increase in MBr concentration was found to be associated with an increase of the odds of having asthma ED visits in California among 6 to 18 years old and disproportionately affects Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics over Non-Hispanic Whites.